The Raiders have two more spots to fill. If no one picks up tight end Bear Pascoe … he’s the tight end the Raiders wanted to draft in the sixth round before the 49ers got him. They went for Brandon Myers after that.

** JaMarcus Russell seemed surprised to see backup quarterback Jeff Garcia get cut. It almost sounds as if he liked the competition from a proven veteran.

“It really did,” Russell said when asked if he was surprised. “I thought he was pretty good being around. … There were a lot of times where he gave advice to a lot of young guys. His leadership role that he played being here, some guys fed off of him.”

Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye weren’t so surprised, if only because they’ve been on the receiving end of this business.

“Nothing surprises me after I got traded after the first game in Cleveland,” said Frye, who got dealt to the Seahawks right after starting the 2007 season opener for the Browns.

If nothing else, they won’t be clamoring for starting time. What they don’t know is who will be the No. 2 quarterback, but that will be decided by week’s end. Unless Russell gets hurt, it simply won’t matter.

“JaMarcus runs the show,” Gradkowski said.

** Rookie safety Mike Mitchell practiced for the first time since restraining his hamstring for the second time Aug. 11.

He expects to play on special teams and hopes to earn back his goal-line spot.

** Projected starter Chaz Schilens hopes to play in Week 2 at Kansas City, with Week 3 versus Denver considered his latest return date from a broken foot.

** Raiders coach Tom Cable said he has a “good idea” who will start at running back but won’t make it final until Thursday.

Returning starter Justin Fargas remains out nursing a hamstring injury. He’s expected to be fine for the opener, but this could be all it takes to rule him out as the starter.

Just a hunch, but I think Darren McFadden gets the nod over Michael Bush. When Fargas missed the exhibition finale, it was McFadden who drew a second start, not Bush.